GARCHA Spring 2007

More than three years ago we had so many players for the indoor that we split the team into GARCHEROS and GARCHUDOS. The destiny did not want an all GARCHA final because we had to play each other in the semifinals. This Spring season again we signed the two teams. We even had to sign in the same division but, thanks to a favorable draw, we do not have to play each other in the first round. Maybe this season we will have a blue and gold final!

Winter Season 2007

We came back in full force for the Indoor season. Although not everyone who played in the Fall wanted to play with the Spongebob ball we had a good group of players who qualified first in the division after the four regular season games. By the end of the regular season who had lost two players, Marko left to work in a one-square meter cubicle in San Jose and Paul went back to China to finish his Thesis work. We brought two new players, Fernando and David, who certainly are a great addition to the team. We played our first playoffs game last night and, unfortunately, lost 5 to 4. It was a hard lost but we gave our best. And don't worry, there is always Spring!

End of the Winter Season

Well... the Fall Season ended on a cold November night filled with rough plays and emotions. After finishing the regular time and the extra time tied we had to go to Penalty Kicks and Team W was more effective than us. A sad ending to a good season. We finished raked #3, our best Fall tournament so far, with a great team of players. The game was tough and, at times violent. Diego lost part of a tooth when he received an elbow to the face! And that left an even worst taste in our mouth. I guess that's part of the beauty of the game.

Back for more

Well, our last season ended up abruptly after being disqualified for "being disrespectful to the other team". What did we do? Mauricio took off his t-shirt celebrating probably the best goal he has ever scored. We won that game 3x1 but we got a 2.0 in sportsmanship and were forbid from keep playing. After several email exchanges with the IM office they decided with did not have a case and that what we did was "unacceptable". I was tempted to send them an email when Schweinsteiger scored the third goal for Germany against Portugal and took his t-shirt off. As far as I know, Germany still won the game and third place!

Anyhow, we are back this season to win the Fall 2006 championship. We have several new players who have been a great addition to the team.

We had some easy three first games, winning all of them without receiving a single goal. We could have played without a goal keeper because the other teams were not even close to our goal. Of course, we always got only a 3.0 in sportsmanship. After exchanging emails with the people at the IM office and talking to the referees we finally got a 4.0 in our last game. Our fourth game was the most difficult so far (which is really not much to say). The game ended 1x1 and left us in second place in our division. The playoffs start on Nov 19th and we have a team to go for it.

First Game of the Play Offs

Finally we ended up ranked #4, winning our group. We played a very good last game with an outstanding performance by Jose scoring four goals. Many people was wondering what was different from the previous game when it seemed like Jose was a completely different player. One person said that maybe he saw people from Real Zaragoza looking at him. Close but not quite that... He was "showing off" to his girlfriend and her family. We need to have them come to all the games!

We have out first game of the play offs this Wednesday May 24th at 7 PM. From now on every game is a final. We have been playing well but we will need to play even better to keep advancing. See you all there on Wednesday, be there early so we can organize the team.

Viva LA GARCHA.

Click here to see the pictures Daniel took. You can order copies if you want.

Official Picture Spring 2006

We did the first part, win our group. Three wins and one tied. Let's keep the good work in the Play-Offs.

In the picture: (standing from left to right) Carlos Zuritz, Shawn Kefauver, Marcelo Olivares, Greg Mockos, Diego Bujazha, Marko Aleksic, Dan Kliebenstein, Paul McPherron.
Samuel Barros, Jose Urbez, Ricardo Heres del Valle, Mauricio Cornejo. Not in the picture: Albert Van Geelen, Pelayo Alvarez, David Riano

To be or not to be...

The eternal question: is it better to play well and loose or to play awful and win? I guess we will take the latter this time. We did not play a good game on Monday but it was in part because the match itself was not very interesting. We did play very well the first 10 minutes but, after being 4x0 and with no chances of loosing, we played unmotivated and unorganized. It is ok, we are here to have fun! And it is important that we did not let them score or even come close to Diego's goal. He even had the chance to do what he likes the most... Take the ball and start dribbling players all the way to the mid field.

Next Monday we will play our last game of the regular season against Cascara Mecanica. It is important that we win to stay in the top ten and not play an extra game to get in the play offs. Even more important is that we have to maintain the Sportsmanship Rating of 3.0 That's what we have so far and any score before 3.0 in the last game will put us out of the play offs. So, do not argue with the referees! Even if they make one of their usually awful calls and that costs us a goal. And do not get into any arguments with the other team.

I don't see any reason why we would not win. Greg and Paul will be back and we will put David in the same chamber the British will put Wayne Rooney so he finally gets over that injured ankle!

Second Game: Light a candle to Saint Diego

Excellent game last night! After a win like last night's a Chilean sports writer used to say "tomorrow the tea will be sweeter and the bread crunchier". It took a great deal of concentration and hard work but we walk away with our first win of the season. I think we play a very intelligent game in the first half and we were able to hold their attacks in the second half - in great part thanks to Diego's monumental night. I lost count how many balls he saved. Anyhow, we still need to work some aspects of the game but I am sure we will get better as the season progresses.

Some key points from last night:

• we did not focus on the referees or their bad calls.
• our offense scored almost every chance they had.
• whenever someone was tired, he went out.
• we put excellent pressure in the mid field in the first half.
• we need to keep working the throw-ins.
• Diego was inspired.
• we did not lost our temper or got angry at the referees, the other team or our teammates.
• everyone helped in defense.

Let's keep the good work next week.

First Game Spring 2006

We didn't win last night because of our own mistakes. It is true that the referees made a huge mistake but we have to start from the premise that the referees are bad and that they are going to make bad calls all the games. We can't stop playing waiting for them to call a foul or an out of bounds ball. We need to keep playing until we hear the whistle. And we can't lose our temper, either. Let's play calm and forget about the referees or the other team. I did complain to the referee's supervisor about their work and especially about the referee wearing sunglasses during the game... unbelievable!

Anyhow, I think we played a decent game considering that we had several players that couldn't show up and was the first game of the season. We had the game under control most of the time. We were winning 4x1 at the beginning of the second half and we could had been 6x1 or 7x1 easily. Although, Diego also saved some great balls, especially in the second half.

We lost our concentration in a couple of particular plays and that cost us the win. I am sure next game will be better and we will get our first win. But we need everyone there to play.